Liverpool FC Forum

[DrPepe]

in the little @rse end of nowhere city on the northern and rainy spanish coast where i live there is a spanish guy i know who goes to the same bar to watch the football. he's a sporting gijon fan, of course, and his english team is arsenal - thing is though that his favourite footballer in any team is yossi and he's the one who cheers loudest whenever he scores for us. he's a good 'un and i like him.

personally i'd like to keep yossi for the rest of his playing days. as a game changing tricky player who will serve his time on the bench when he needs to i don't think there is much better out there - on current form at least.

exactamundo 

yossi does exactly what it says on the tin, and he does it well - he;s there for cover for gerard, to unlock defences and as a quality impact sub (i said IMPACT, Ryan. IMPACT   )

[The Good Yank]

Can't wait till I get home and put the feet up in front of a roaring wife......

That has got to be one of the best expressions I've ever heard.   

[RedintheHead]

Personally, I don't quite understand why some continue to restrict Yossi to the roll of an impact sub. Yes, he does very well coming off the bench and goes to work doing whatever Rafa asks of him. But Yossi has proven to be more than capable of leading a charge from the starting 11, and he has done it more than once this season in the absence of Gerrard.

Benayoun has so much to offer to the team and is far beyond a "squad" player, whatever that is supposed to mean. Not quite "good enough" to command a starting place? I beg to differ. Not only has Yossi proven that idea wrong in the second half of this season with LFC, but he has undoubtedly been the most influential captain of the Israeli national squad and is the leading force behind their managed successes.

In my opinion, he is class on and off the pitch. His teammates at the club are all fond of him and he is a humble and hardworking player.

Even Torres himself admitted that, given control of the squad selection, he would prefer that Yossi play alongside him every game as Yossi is attack-minded and is always looking for the forward pass and the striker.

[Sabre]

Interesting that Redinthehead, I didn't know Torres had said that.

Yossi has done more than enough to be first choice this season, but for Rafa, most of the season Kuyt has been first choice. Benayoun had to show what he's got often as a sub, or when a team mate wasn't available. And he's got all the chances he's given with open arms.

He should be a model for all these moaning players that moan about they don't have complete games and are in the bench. The likes of Benayoun do the talking in the pitch.

[JC_81]

He should be a model for all these moaning players that moan about they don't have complete games and are in the bench. The likes of Benayoun do the talking in the pitch.

I don't think he's any different to any other player in that respect mate.  Before Christmas Yossi did have a moan about not playing enough.

I think it's understandable that a guy at 28/29 at the peak of his profession wants to be playing often.  Just like any other player that isn't happy on the bench though, Yossi's comments found their way to the press.  Part and parcel of football these days.

[fivecups]

Personally, I don't quite understand why some continue to restrict Yossi to the roll of an impact sub. Yes, he does very well coming off the bench and goes to work doing whatever Rafa asks of him. But Yossi has proven to be more than capable of leading a charge from the starting 11, and he has done it more than once this season in the absence of Gerrard.

Benayoun has so much to offer to the team and is far beyond a "squad" player, whatever that is supposed to mean. Not quite "good enough" to command a starting place? I beg to differ. Not only has Yossi proven that idea wrong in the second half of this season with LFC, but he has undoubtedly been the most influential captain of the Israeli national squad and is the leading force behind their managed successes.

In my opinion, he is class on and off the pitch. His teammates at the club are all fond of him and he is a humble and hardworking player.

Even Torres himself admitted that, given control of the squad selection, he would prefer that Yossi play alongside him every game as Yossi is attack-minded and is always looking for the forward pass and the striker.

Good post. Certainly in the last few months Yossi has been in great form and I would be happy for him to start every match. He's done well in the Gerrard role whilst he's been injured but he's also been superb in LM - he changed the game when he came on against Chelsea at Anfield. He's got a bit of the Garcia about him at the minute - his confidence is high and he's beating players with ease. I'd love to see him start on the left against Newcastle at the weekend.

[Kharhaz]

Your a bit of a strange one Mark in these parts. You have an opinion, and then when someone disagrees with you, you kind of accept it  It really is very odd, and I like the cut of your jib.

Gotta be better than going round in circles with neither side of the argument likely to change their views.

Ahh the irony, I remember when we lost in the league cup and said I couldnt care less about this mickey mouse cup. Here was your reply:

I find the attitude of people happy to accept defeat simply because "it's only a mickey mouse cup" disgraceful, if you're happy to lose then there's a club tailor made for you not too far from Anfield. Not picking on you, just happens to be one of the first I've come across not commenting on the match, do us all a favour people who don't care about this competition and feck off out of the thread instead of repeating the sentiment. You're not interested, stay out of the thread.

Easy enough concept, we don't need to hear you justifying the fact that you only support Liverpool FC when it suits you

Then when we lost to Everton in the FA Cup, you respond differently:

Good news is that's one less distraction, bad news is Rafa seems increasingly clueless in terms of winning or positively influencing games during them that I can see us winning less games than we draw or lose until the end of the season.

So going around in individuals arguments is a common thing. I get slated for calling the league cup a mickey mouse cup but the FA Cup is a "distraction". I despair I really do.

[bigmick]

Just to clarify Kharaz they aren't my posts your quoting there mate

[Kharhaz]

Just to clarify Kharaz they aren't my posts your quoting there mate

I know matey, im simply returning a compliment to the person I quoted   

[Rush Job]

I think we would have a more attacking side if we played SG alongside Alonso and yossi behind Torres, gives us another match winner.
With the games we have left I`d probably go with that, considering we have to win them all to have any kind of chance.
I honestly believe if there were 10 games left we`d win it, maybe we should have played benny more during our goal drout and run of draws?

[maguskwt]

I've always liked benayoun. He's a slippery little player like an eel. He doesn't run into defenders as much as garcia. And his dribbling is not very easy to guess for opponents. Only thing he lacks is the killer past, which players like robinho and kaka has plenty. Also he's not very pacey. Anyway I remember one game when were struggling to break down a team, he came on and did this move like a basketball player, he ran straight at the defender, did a spinning move, lost the marker and scored... that was an amazing individual effort...

[SundanceKid]

I've always liked benayoun. He's a slippery little player like an eel. He doesn't run into defenders as much as garcia. And his dribbling is not very easy to guess for opponents. Only thing he lacks is the killer past, which players like robinho and kaka has plenty. Also he's not very pacey. Anyway I remember one game when were struggling to break down a team, he came on and did this move like a basketball player, he ran straight at the defender, did a spinning move, lost the marker and scored... that was an amazing individual effort...

When you say past do you mean pass or like past as in history? If you meant pass, I beg to differ

[RedintheHead]

There was recently a documentary centered around Yossi Benayoun's move to Liverpool shown on Israeli TV this past week. It was a truly moving and inspirational look at the man behind the number 15 at Anfield. The documentary was mostly in Hebrew, but I wanted to translate for you some of the parts that really highlight the great person Yossi is and his commitment to the club. Also there are some segments where Yossi convinced some of his teammates (Arbeloa, Torres, Reina, Mascherano) to give a few words, most of that is in English and I'll link to it.

--------------------- "The Diamond From Dimona"---------------------

Yossi on the Liverpool experience

[Interviewer] When we watch the TV, there is that moment when you exit the tunnel and you hear that You'll Never Walk Alone anthem; do you feel in those moments that you are in a dream?

[Yossi] Yes. There is no doubt that it is something most special--from the moment I arrived at Liverpool, you know, you just step onto to Anfield and the atmosphere, it just sends shivers down your spine. People who come to me, many friends, fans who make it to the games, that is the first thing they say to me: it is unbelievable, the moment that everyone stands and sings YNWA; it is a moment for a lifetime. And you, honestly, thank God every day that you are there.

Teammates Arbeloa and Torres on Yossi

Arbeloa and Torres in English @ 4:45

Arbeloa on encouraging Yossi to be more selfish in his attack (I think Yossi has taken this advice this half of the season!) (4:45)

Torres on preferring Yossi by his side in any game. (6:28)

[Reina] I've been in football for ten years and he's one of the best teammates I've ever shared a dressing room with.

Yossi on Liverpool's supporters

[Yossi] It's an adrenalin that flows through your body. The crowd puts you into a frenzy; you can't stand for a second. The crowd, you just make a tackle and the fans erupt like you've scored a goal! The crowd brings you in. They live the game.

[Interviewer (narrating)] On our visit to England, we were fortunate enough to witness an extraordinary event, so far removed from our football culture [in Israel]: Yossi's Liverpool is defeated  3-1. And despite the painful loss to Chelsea, the fans sing passionately in the end for their most beloved club; a club who will truly never walk alone. 

Yossi on his greatest career goal

[Yossi] In the game against Manchester City at Anfield I've missed a chance in the 90th minute to win the game. I came home and told my wife "I can't believe that I've missed that". She told me that it's a good sign and not to worry. I asked why and she replied that God is saving me the winner at the Bernabeu, just like that she told me. I just laughed! What goal? Me scoring the winning goal in the Bernabeu?!
In most of our free-kicks I wait around the 16-yard-box for the rebound. This time I decided to run in. Riera came to me before Aurelio's cross and said: "Let's both run to the near post" and I said "fine". He ran in near and I stood in the middle. And suddenly the ball came directly to me. You tell me, is that not from above (heavenly)?
I was in a trance. The first thing that came to my mind was my wife and children. I was imagining how they felt at that moment; the parents in Dimona, the family and friends--their happiness.

[Interviewer] How do you keep your feet on the ground after a day like that?

[Yossi] There is no reason to not to keep grounded. You know that in three or four days there is another game and you have to prove yourself all over again; you need to concentrate on the next match. So what that I've scored an immense goal in the CL, what does that mean? Does that promise me a spot in the starting 11 next match or I'm suddenly some big star? That's just not how it works.

[Interviewer] Are you not a big star?

[Yossi] No. I hate to speak of footballers in terms of stars.

Torres on beating Mascherano at Playstation

Watch in English (4:45)

[Interviewer] Who is your roommate when you travel?
[Yossi] Fernando Torres.
[Interviewer] What do you do together?
[Yossi] We chat, watch TV. He loves to play the Playstation; I don't like it so much. Other players come in to play..Like Mascherano…
[Yossi] I add the spice from the background. Whoever loses at Playstation I make fun of! Mascherano doesn't like to lose at anything.
[Interviewer] What is he liable to do??
[Yossi] He's liable to break either the television or the Playstation!   

Closing the documentary
[Interviewer] What would you call this movie?
[Yossi] Maybe "You'll never walk alone"?
[Interviewer] Maybe "The diamond from Dimona"?
[Yossi] What diamond?? Barely a marble stone.

----------------------------
Hope you all enjoyed those little bits as much as I did. For me, what makes Yossi Benayoun world class is his humble attitude and his true commitment to Liverpool. You could never buy that type of class, and Yossi has enough of it to go around.

[supersub]

Very interesting piece ...thank you for sharing it with us

[Festy]

Wow brilliant. Thanks for sharing redintheHead. Yossi's a great bloke.

Torres vs Mascherano